Uneven skin tone is one of the most common skin problems in women, and it is not age-specific. With stress, hormones, and daily exposure to the sun, the skin does get visibly affected. To get natural and even complexion back, women resort to skin whitening creams.
Since pigmentation is something most women face in India, the demand for skin whitening creams has grown enormously in the beauty industry. But with so many options available, how do you know which cream is safe and effective? Well, we are here to help you make a wise decision. Read on!
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Skin whitening cream, also known as skin lightening cream, is a multipurpose lotion that protects the skin from harmful UV rays, rejuvenates the skin, and evens the skin tone. Therefore, it is important that the cream is free of dangerous chemicals and consists of healthy and natural ingredients to suit your skin type.
Depending on your skin type, you would want to pick a product that will keep your skin hydrated and healthy and make your complexion look better. If you have a dry skin type, you need a whitening cream to keep your skin hydrated while providing an extra glow. So, look for creams with hyaluronic acid and glycerine, which are incredibly nourishing.
If you have oily skin, you would need a cream that quickly absorbs into the skin without leaving behind an oily residue. Extracts of rose and cotton flower will provide the required nourishment to the skin. Those with sensitive skin need to be extra careful and choose a lightening cream with soothing natural extracts, such as aloe vera and honey.
Some of the ingredients to avoid are hydroquinone, mercury, also listed as mercurio, calomel, or mercuric. They have serious health effects and can damage your skin permanently because of their toxic nature. Using high hydroquinone concentrations can cause severe unevenness in complexion and is therefore banned in many countries.
Hydroquinone can also lead to skin irritation, redness and a burning sensation. However, if used in a limited quantity, it is not that bad for the skin. Mercury is another ingredient to avoid as it can cause skin rashes, scars, and discolored skin.
Some skin types may be more sensitive than others, or you might not know what your skin requires. So, it is always best to talk to a dermatologist before applying any new product on your face.
A whitening cream reduces melanin production, thus, leaving your skin more prone to UV rays. Prolonged exposure to the sun without having a good SPF can damage your skin. Therefore, you should look for a face whitening cream that has a good SPF or zinc oxide.
Zinc oxide is quite a beneficial ingredient in sunscreen as it sits on the outermost layer of the skin, thus scattering, absorbing, and reflecting UV radiation to protect the skin.
SPF protection ranges from a light factor 10 to as high as factor 50. Daily, we should wear at least factor 15, regardless of the weather, to ensure that our face is safe from sun damage. If you are not adding sunscreen to your daily routine, you must look for the lost SPF in your whitening cream.
Unlike other beauty products, skin whitening creams have a limited number of shades available. Most of the creams are designed for light and medium skin tones. However, certain creams are formulated to match your skin tone after application.
If you're unable to find the right cream for your skin tone, such formulas prove helpful. They start out white or grey and later change to match your skin colour. For darker skin tones, there are not many options available. However, we've made sure to include the only choices available in our recommendation list.
This breakthrough formula from Lotus Herbals brightens, whitens and lightens skin, and protects it from UV rays. It is made up of all-natural ingredients, including extracts from lychee, amla, grapes, punarnava, and saxifrage.
The formula is designed keeping in mind all skin types and is therefore suitable for normal, dry, oily, and combined skin. It melts nicely into the skin, helping with dark spots and pigmentation reduction, leaving behind smooth, radiant, and even skin tone.
The brand promises renewed and brighter skin from the first night. Though not the first night, reviewers suggest that the visible result can be seen after a few nights. Vitamin C and white speed serum not only lightens the skin tone but reduces dark spots too.
Whitening cream also contains lemon essence and yogurt Bifidus, which exfoliates the skin, resulting in younger-looking fair skin. The light-weight texture of the cream penetrates deep in the skin and delivers the desired result.
Why should women have all the glow? Lakme Absolute's Perfect Radiance Brightening Day Crème is suitable for both men and women. It has precious micro-crystals that gently polish and lightens the skin. It also has SPF that protects the sun damage.
The cream's smooth and creamy texture suits all skin types, giving them a fairer and illuminated look. Though the product has all that's required from a whitening cream, reviewers comment that the product doesn't work well for dry skin and has a temporary effect.
A dermatologically researched and developed product that helps reduce spots and pigmentation marks on the face. Along with reducing spots, the cream prevents further darkening of the skin. The product shows visible results in 2 weeks if used regularly.
Kaya is one of the leading providers of skincare, haircare, and beauty solutions, and many dermatologists across India prescribe its products. If you want to repair your skin with all the right set of ingredients, including highly potent actives - azelaic acid and phytic acid, Kaya's Pigmentation Reduction Complex whitening cream is for you.
L'Oreal Paris is the only brand that has personalised the skincare routine at every age. This particular whitening cream is suitable for age 20+. If you were having trouble finding a whitening cream for your dark skin, your search ends here.
With high performing active ingredients, this whitening cream is a perfect pick for those with dark skin. Within four weeks of regular usage, you will see the visible results. Customers comment on how their acne scars almost disappeared after a month of using the cream.
Here's a skin whitening formula that will suit the temperament of dry skin. It contains SPF15 that protects and repairs skin from sun damage and scarring. Both men and women can use the product.
To achieve a flawless, charming glow and to keep your skin moisturised at the same time, the White Beauty Anti-Spot Fairness cream is for you. For best results, the company recommends using it every morning/evening after cleansing your skin.
This whitening day cream claims to give your skin a spotless, radiant glow in one week, which has proven true for many users. It has a unique, non-greasy formula that reduces dark spots and sunspots.
The only con of the product is that it takes time to absorb in the skin, but it does show results. Some users say that they have finally found a good product; others feel that their skin dries out after some time.
Himalaya Herbals' whitening cream is a skin-brightening and moisturising cream. It contains all the natural extracts from Persian rose, mandarin orange, and walnut. It also contains aloe vera, which makes it the perfect pick for those with sensitive skin.
This face cream is dermatologically tested and hypoallergenic. Reviewers say that the cream is suitable for oily skin and does not cause sweat. However, it only provides a temporary glow to the skin.
Unlike other whitening creams, Olay uses the sophisticated technology of Pearl Optics to boost fairness and give a natural glow to the skin. Its light-weight texture and enticing fragrance of honey make it a top pick among customers.
The cream's light-weight texture helps it penetrate into the skin's deeper layers to show sustainable changes. The creamy formula works to reduce dark spots and discolouration on the skin. It also hydrates the skin and improves its appearance.
If you're looking for a fragrance-free product, Biotique's fairness cream is for you. The cream is enriched with 100% pure and natural ingredients, combined with Swiss technology's perfection.
You can use the cream regularly to get fairer, softer, and younger-looking skin. The cream is preservative-free and is not tested on any animal. The only reason for placing the product, in the end, is that the reviewers find it not suitable for oily and combination skin.
If you're new to using face whitening cream, the process might look trickier than it actually is. But the trick to getting it right is staying consistent with the application and having a clear skincare goal in mind. That being said, here are a few tips to get the desired results from a whitening cream.
After applying a whitening cream, you might want to add some more beauty products to your daily routine for happy skin. So, why not read through some of our best face masks and cleansers.
Whatever your skin type and skin tone, we hope you're able to find something useful for your skin in the above article. If yes, do not forget to check out more articles from the skincare and cosmetics section.
Author: Srishti Sikka
No. 1: Lotus Herbals | Whiteglow Skin Whitening & Brightening Gel Creme
No. 2: Garnier Skin Naturals | Light Complete Yoghurt Night Cream
No. 3: Lakme Absolute | Perfect Radiance Brightening Day Crème
No. 4: Kaya | Pigmentation Reduction Complex
No. 5: L'Oreal Paris | Skin Perfect Anti-Imperfections + Whitening Cream
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